CASTINE \u2013 It was a busy morning at Maine Maritime Academy as the college announced that preparations are underway for \u2018near-normal\u2019 campus operations this fall.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are incredibly proud to have been able to maintain in-person instruction throughout the last two semesters and look forward to a continued return to normalcy this fall,\u201d said Dr.\u00a0William J. Brennan, President. \u201cHands-on learning is essential to our educational mission and critical to the success of all students.\u201d<\/p>\n
Due to an enduring commitment to safety, campus-wide social distancing and masking protocols, a robust campus surveillance testing program, public health campaigns, and community buy-in, the college has enjoyed a successful spring semester and will be launching a busy summer training cruise season this month. This summer\u2019s schedule includes two cruises aboard the Training Ship\u00a0State of Maine<\/em>\u00a0and the\u00a0Schooner Bowdoin<\/em>. In addition, MMA students will be completing cadet shipping, co-ops, and internships with companies throughout the world.<\/p>\n Despite modifications to campus life, students have maintained their ability to attend class in-person and take advantage of the school\u2019s unique opportunities.\u00a0“This year has not been a typical year, and a lot of things were\u00a0limited \u2013 we couldn\u2019t hang out with large groups of friends or complete full athletic seasons,\u201d says sophomore\u00a0Olivia Harriman.\u00a0\u201cI am grateful that we were able to have in-person classes and labs this semester, but I cannot wait to spend time with my friends without worrying about the group size, compete with my lacrosse team, and host more in-person activities with the Campus Activities Board!”<\/p>\n Many events, such as the school\u2019s annual Ship Jump and Ring Ceremony, were held on campus this year, allowing students to enjoy beloved traditions while maintaining the health and safety of the entire Castine community.<\/p>\n \u201cOur students have worked hard to keep each other safe and to succeed as we have,\u201d says Dr. Keith Williamson, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost. \u201cTheir commitment is remarkable, and they have continuously adapted to the challenges posed by the pandemic with resilience, determination, and flexibility.\u201d<\/p>\n Dr. Williamson acknowledges that this flexibility will be key to ongoing planning, as Maine continues to safely succeed in its mission to restore normalcy to everyday life. \u201cWe will again offer the vast majority of our courses in-person this fall, as we have over these last two semesters,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n \u201cApproximately 80% percent of classes and labs will take place as they normally would, and the remainder will likely offer hybrid learning opportunities for students. We anticipate that our vision for what is possible this fall will only expand in the coming months.\u201d<\/p>\n